Happy Salisbury Museum Volunteers enjoyed the summer party yesterday, along with Director Adrian Green, staff and trustees, who were our hosts. It was beautifully organised in the marquee in the museum garden and delicious savoury nibbles, cake, liquid refreshment, and even sunshine, were provided and enjoyed.
Live music was provided by Maerefolk with an old friend, Dr Hadrian Cook (of Salisbury Water Meadows fame) on guitar!
Our favourite bloggers, Alan Clarke (l) and Alan Crooks (r) were there.
And it was the birthday of everyone’s favourite lady, Val, who was presented with a gift.
As promised last week, work has started on the roof of the north wing.
And the stone has arrived to allow repair and reconstruction to the windows on the east front.
FROM THISTO THIS
The gardens are still beautiful. It is amazing how they change from week to week at this time of year.
Hollyhocks still to come! The Wooden Cabin had only just opened when this photograph was taken, hence the lack of customers. It is still, unsurprisingly, doing good business in all this sunshine. Recommended this week – the cinnamon buns, the sausage rolls with chutney in them, and their ice creams…
Thank you ladies!
And in case anyone is surprised by this view in the morning, don’t be alarmed…our lovely Receptionists have swapped shifts!
It is Volunteers’ Week this week. We hope to include some reports on the various activities soon.
Meanwhile:
The gardening team have been at their post every Monday for some weeks now, and the results are stunning.
The Wood Cabin continues to be popular. The cakes are described as “Fantastic!” And the sunshine has attracted customers.
And the work begins on the outside of our lovely buildings. St Ann’s Gate Architects who work on historic buildings are busy on the east wall of what was our cafe, while the south wall of the old chapel (Lecture Hall) is being demolished.
Conversation Club continues with its monthly Monday gatherings, currently in the City Centre Library, which is proving a popular venue. And the little ones continue to be catered for at Under Five Fridays, as described recently.
Behind the Scenes Tours continue on the first Saturday of each month.
Volunteers are still busy processing archaeological finds discovered by members of the public, entering the information on the British Museum Portable Antiquities Scheme database.
Volunteers are running the computers hot with keeping the ever-changing museum situation monitored and recorded, particularly, at the moment, keeping records of where items are, in their various temporary ‘homes’.
Tourists and vacationers continue to be enthralled by the Wessex Gallery and by our temporary exhibition, Salisbury On Camera, all expertly guided, when needed, by our Engagement Volunteers.
And we have a continuing programme of online talks, Dr Phil Harding giving a talk in the Medieval Hall, youngsters involved with Fashioning Our World, Young Curator’s Club and Summer Discovery Days. All of which are supported by Volunteers.
This May bank holiday we are once again celebrating with the Spring Fayre, bringing together all the traditions, festivities and fun that Wiltshire has been associated with at this time of year. There is lots going on at the museum, and we would really appreciate some volunteer help for this event as well as setting up the days before. Please contact me if you are able to help.
And, don’t forget…
The Spring Fayre is fast approaching and with it, a request from the gardening volunteers for assistance with their new stall for the event. To help visitors to engage with the garden, there will be a museum gardener’s table with potted plants and photos of the gardens and their wildlife throughout the year.
From the Gardening Team…
We need your help to provide stock for the Garden stall at the Spring Fayre. Seedlings, potted plants and flowers and secondhand gardening equipment would be much appreciated.
We would like items such as gloves, spades, and plant pots.
The scaffolding is back! But it all means progress…
The gardening team were missed on Monday, but it was a bank holiday, and the weather, despite the photo above, was appalling. Within minutes of glorious blue skies, it was raining in torrents and blowing a gale! April showers…
The rain certainly seemed to encourage visitors – the museum was bustling all day.
The weather was kind, we were joined by friends old and new – all eager to share their passion for archaeology – and the public came along.
There were families (including one that diverted on their journey from London to Wales!), visitors to Salisbury, people from overseas, famous archaeologists, budding archaeologists, little ones realising theycould be archaeologists, all enjoying and having fun. Even Thomas Hardy!
The OutsideCBA WessexWaiting for Alice!WeorodThe CafeMusic music musicStonehengeWessex ArchaeologyPhil, PAS volunteers, FLO Sophie Hawke
Thank you – Wessex Museums, Scrapstore, Salisbury Cathedral Education, CBA Wessex, Cranborne Chase AONB, The Outside, Tim Lowe (as Thomas Hardy), Weorod, Ancient Wessex, The Bowmen (and women), Wiltshire Museum, Wessex Archaeology, NT and HE Stonehenge, Hampshire Cultural Trust, Friends of Claendon, musicians, cafe, Chris Elmer, PAS, Past Foward, Simon Cleggett, Lorraine Mepham, Phil Harding, Alice Roberts, Julian Richards, Museum Director Adrian Green and staff and Volunteers and visitors.
The weather seems to be picking up and the garden at the Museum is looking stunning – thank you to all of our gardeners who take such great care of the flowers and plants each week. The visitors are all commenting on what a sight it is too!
We have a number of shifts and opportunities for Volunteers coming up for June across all activities at the Museum, please let me know if you are available for any of them:
Sun 29 May Wiltshire Creative event on back lawn 8.45am to 6.15pm 1 Extra engagement volunteer in shifts throughout the day
Sat 4th June Behind the Scenes Tour All shifts that day 1 Extra engagement volunteer for each normal open shift
Tues 7 June Large group visit 10.45am- 11:15am and 12:45 – 2:15pm shifts 1 Extra engagement volunteer on each shift
Thurs 9 June Talk: Hardy’s Wessex 6:45-9pm 1 Volunteer
Sat 11th June Behind the Scenes Tour 9:45, 11:15 and 12:45pm shifts 1 Extra engagement volunteer on each shift
Weds 15 June Wessex Museums Network Event 5:15-7:45pm 3 Volunteers throughout the galleries and Kings Room
Sat 18 June Talk: Tracy Hayes – Hardy 1.45 to 3.15pm 1 Extra engagement volunteer
Tues 21 June Hire – Cosmology Group 6.45 to 9pm 1 Volunteer
Sat 25 Jun Insect Odyssey launch 11.45 to 2.30pm 1 Extra engagement volunteer
Wed 29 June Group visit 7.45 to 10am 5 Engagement volunteers throughout the galleries
Thurs 30 JuneTalk: Robin Walter, Living with Trees 6.45 to 8.45pm 1 Volunteer
Learning Volunteer Opportunity
Would you like to diversify or develop your role with us at the Museum? Owain is looking for more volunteers to join his learning team! There is a full role description available and myself and Owain are happy to talk through it in more detail if you let me know if you are interested by replying to this email.